Back pack frame



Sept. 14, 1965 v. c. TYRRELL 3,206,087

BACK PACK FRAME Filed Oct. 2, 1961 V/ncen/ C 7902/],

INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,206,087 BACK PACK FRAME Vincent C. Tyrreli, 3728 W. 170th St., Torrance, Calif. Filed Oct. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 142,075 Claims. (Cl. 224-8) This invention relates to load carrying devices adapted to be borne on a persons back for transporting loads.

When transporting loads on a persons back by means of a pack frame it is important to be able to adjust the load so that part of the load is carried by the shoulders and part by the hips. In addition it is important to carry all of the load on the hips when the shoulders develop extreme fatigue.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of this character which includes a pack frame on which the load may be proportioned between the shoulders and the hips.

It is another object of the invention that all of the load may be carried on the hips when necessary;

Another object of the invention is to provide a pack frame which will support the load in an upright position when placed on the ground for loading or unloading the pack at a height sufiicient to reduce excessive stooping or squatting;

Another object of the invention is to provide a pack frame which will position the load and frame out of con tact with the bearers body except at the waist band and shoulder straps thus allowing cooling air to circulate freely;

Still another object of this invention is to provide a pack frame which allows the bearer to walk in a more upright position when transporting the loaded pack frame.

Another object of this invention is to provide a protected support below the pack for supplemental equipment such as a sleeping bag.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pack frame that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Further objects and advantages may be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is described for the purpose of making a complete disclosure without intending, however, to limit the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which are for illustrative purposes only;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the back pack frame of the present invention carried by a bearer;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the back pack frame;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the back pack frame supported by the ground in an upright position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken A on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the back pack frame. Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like parts in the several views and with particular reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 2 it will be observed that the back pack frame and pack is designated as 10. The frame 11 is formed from a piece of continuous tubular material such as aluminum or magnesium, although any other suitable material may be used. The lower portion of the frame is a horizontal U-shaped portion having forwardly projecting side portions 13 and a connecting rearward portion 12. The U-shaped section is formed so that the connecting portion is elevated above the side portions 13. From the side portions 13 the frame 11 is formed upwardly in an arcuate portion 25 in the area of the bearers hip joint and then formed rearwardly and then upwardly into parallel vertical portions 14. The vertical portions 14 are connected to a horizontal cross member 15.

It will be observed that the frame is supported on the .straps and the wide belt.

3,206,087 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 bearer by two shoulder straps 18 and a waist encircling belt 19. The upper ends of the shoulder straps are attached to the cross member by any suitable means. The upper portions of the shoulder straps are preferably padded with any suitable resilient material. The lower ends of the shoulder straps are equipped with releasable clips 24. These clips 24, are fastened to the frame at arcuate portion by an eyelet 22 and a nut 27. The belt 19 is attached to the frame by side brackets 21 better illustrated in FIG. 4. The brackets 21 are attached to the belt with rivets or other suitable means. The eyelets 22 pivotally retain the belt brackets. It will be noted that the portion 28 of the bracket 21 is contoured to the hip of the bearer. Although not illustrated it is contemplated that both the shoulder straps 18 and the belt 19 will be adjustable to fit persons of different sizes.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 and FIG. 5 a pack or knapsack 16 is provided to contain the load being carried. The pack is attached to the upright portions 14 of the frame 11 by fabric loops 30 or other suitable means. The back portion 29 of the pack is stretched tight by said means to absorb lateral loads in the frame and thus allow the simple structure illustrated.

Below the pack back 29, a fabric pack extension 17 is provided. The upper end of the extension 17 is shown as being integral with the pack back 29 although it may be otherwise attached thereto, and is supported by the upright portions 14 of the frame 11. The lower end of the extension is secured to and supported by the elevated rearward portion 12 of the frame 11 as shown in FIG. 5. Any suitable means may be used to secure the lower end of the extension to the portion 12. For example, as shown in FIG 5, the lower end of extension 17 is looped about the portion 12, and a simple, well known way to secure the loop in position on portion 12 is'by sewing the free end portion of the loop to the adjacent part of said extension. Thus a sleeping bag 26 or other bulky equip ment may be carried and maintained off of the ground or rocks when resting or when the pack frame is not being carried. In FIG. 3 it is clearly shown that all parts of the extension 17 are spaced upwardly of the surface S of the ground or other support for the device so that the pack will therefore be maintained off the ground.

Means may also be provided for securing a sleeping bag 26 in position on the extension 17 and portion 12. Any suitable means may be provided such as, for example, a rope or cord R having the ends thereof secured respectively to the portion 12 and the upright 14 of the frame.

When the back pack frame is used to carry a load too bulky for the pack, the pack may be removed and the load attached to the frame directly. In such instances a back 29 would be provided such as illustrated in FIG. 5.

It will be observed in FIG. 1 that the load is carried by the bearer in an upright position and that no portion of the load rests on the bearers body except at the shoulder Thus air may circulate between the pack frame and b ack of the bearer. -It is important that the center of gravity of the upright load be located between the forward and rearward extremities of the frame portions 13 so that the pack frame will be self supporting when placed on the ground. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 the padded shoulder straps serve to maintain the pack and frame away from the bearers back.

I claim:

1. A load carrying device comprising:

a frame, said frame including a continuous tubular member, having a horizontal U-shaped base, said base having forwardly extending side portions, and an elevated rearward connecting portion, said side portions arcuately formed upwardly and rearward- 1y, then vertically to form parallel pack supporting portions, and a horizontal member positioned between and attached to said vertical portions; at waist encircling belt for supporting said frame;

pivotal means to secure said belt to oppositely arranged arcuate portions of said frame; shoulder straps for supporting said frame, said straps having upper ends and lower ends, means to attach said upper ends to said horizontal member and means to attach said lower ends to said belt pivotal means; an equipment supporting strap, and means to attach said strap to said pack supporting portions and to said elevated rearward connecting frame portion. 2. A load carrying device comprising:

frame, said frame including a continuous tubular member, having a horizontal U-shaped base, said :base having forwardly extending side portions, and and elevated rearward connecting portion, said side portions arc-uate-ly formed upwardly and rearwardly, then vertically to form parallel pack supporting portions, and a horizontal member positioned between and attached to said vertical portions; at waist encircling belt for supporting said frame;

pivotal means to secure said belt to oppositely arranged arcuate portions of said frame; shoulder straps for supporting said frame, said straps having upper ends and lower ends, means to attach said upper ends to said horizontal member and means to attach said lower ends to said belt pivotal means;

an upright pack carrid by said parallel frame portions;

a pack extension having one end attached to the lower portion of said pack and its other end attached to said elevated rearward connecting frame portion.

3. In a load carrying device: .a frame including a gen-' erally horizontal U-shaped base, the arms of which extend forwardly in generally parallel relationship relative to each other, the rear end portions of said arms being turned upwardly and connected together by a rear connecting portion spaced upwardly of the plane of the lower sides of said arms, the forward portions of said arms being 7 turned upwardly and rearwardly and then vertically to form parallel pack-supporting portions; and. sheet material having'the side portions thereof secured to said vertical laterally spaced parallel pack-supporting portions and having a downward and rearward extension, the rear end portion of said extension being secured to the rear connecting portion of the frame with the lower part thereof spaced upwardly of said plane.

4. A unitary frame for a load carrying device, comprising:

a unitary frame, said frame including a generally horizontal U-shaped base, said base being adapted to' porting portions being positioned between the effective ends of their said respective ground engaging side portions so that said frame will remain in an upright position when placed on the ground;

a waist encircling belt for supporting said frame on the bearer;

means to secure said. belt to the oppositely disposed C-shaped portions in the area of the hip joint of said bearer; and

shoulder straps for supporting said frame on the shoulders of the bearer, said straps having upper ends and lower ends, means to attach said upper ends to said horizontal member, and means to attach said lower ends to said C-shaped portions of said frame.

5. A unitary frame for a load carrying device, comprising:

a unitary frame, said frame including a generally horizontal U-shaped base, said base being adapted to rest on the ground when said device is not in use for carrying a load, said base having generally parallel forwardly extending side portions, and a connecting rearward portion, said side portions continuing upwardly and rearwardly to form C-shaped portions and then upwardly to form generally parallel vertical load supporting portions, and a horizontal member positioned between and attached to said vertical load supporting portions, said vertical load supporting portions being positioned between the eifective ends of their said respective ground engaging side portions so that said frame will remain in an upright position when placed on the ground;

a waist encircling belt for supporting said frame on the bearer;

means to secure said belt to the oppositely disposed V C-shaped portions in the area of the hip joint of said bearer; and

shoulder straps for supporting said frame on the shoulders of the bearer, said straps having upper ends and lower ends, means to attach said upper ends to said horizontal member, and means to attach said lower ends to said C-shaped portions of said frame;

an upright pack carried by said vertical load supporting portions;

a pack extension having one end attached to the lower portion of said pack and its other end attached to said connecting rearward portion of said U-shaped base.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,675,150 4/54 Ackerman 22425.1 X 2,836,334 5/58 Davis 22425.1 2,925,205 2/60 Hunt 224-11 X 2,964,222 12/60 Rainwater 224-9 FOREIGN PATENTS 882,484 3/43 France.

72,710 10/47 Norway. 106,297 1/43 Sweden.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS M. FRITZ, Examiner. 

1. A LOAD CARRYING DEVICE COMPRISING: A FRAME, SAID FRAME INCLUDING A CONTINUOUS TUBULAR MEMBER, HAVING A HORIZONTAL U-SHAPED BASE, SAID BASE HAVING FORWARDLY EXTENDING SIDE PORTIONS, AND AN ELEVATED REARWARD CONNECTING PORTION, SAID SIDE PORTIONS ARCUATELY FORMED UPWARDLY AND REARWARDLY, THEN VERTICALLY TO FORM PARALLEL PACK SUPPORTING PORTIONS, AND A HORIZONTAL MEMBER POSITIONED BETWEEN AND ATTACHED TO SAID VERTICAL PORTIONS; A WAIST ENCIRCLING BELT FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME; PIVOTAL MEANS TO SECURE SAID BELT TO OPPOSITELY ARRANGED ARCUATE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME; SHOULDER STRAPS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FRAME, SAID STRAPS HAVING UPPER ENDS AND LOWER ENDS, MEANS TO ATTACH SAID UPPER ENDS TO SAID HORIZONTAL MEMBER AND MEANS TO ATTACH SAID LOWER ENDS TO SAID BELT PIVOTAL MEANS; AN EQUIPMENT SUPPORTING STRAP, AND MEANS TO ATTACH SAID STRAP TO SAID PACK SUPPORTING PORTIONS AND TO SAID ELEVATED REARWARD CONNECTING FRAME PORTION. 